on the broadcast tonight, battleground ohio, the candidates stormed the crucial swing states as polls show one of them gaetting a commanding lead. and under fire, richard enginele on the front lines as they come under attack. and bad call, what is taking so long, as they work it out. bob costas on the moment of crisis. and hot and bothered, how americans are reacting to the news of the worldwide bacon shortage. and remembering an american classic, andy williams, who gave us "moon river" and so much more. nightly news starts now.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening, i'm savannah guthrie in tonight for brian. there are few things that are guaranteed in presidential elections, but one thing is almost always certain. every four years, the state of ohio will be a battleground, hot licon tested for its trove of electoral votes and the way it has of picking the winner. tonight, the candidates are in ohio as the news shows that the win could be slipping away for the republican challenger. ron allen has more. >> reporter: good evening to you, savannah, mitt romney just wrapped up an event here, the third of the day. he has really been trying to pick up the pace, spending more time here in ohio than any other state. at every campaign stop, mitt romney has hit the same theme. i care about you.

>> these are tough times, even for families with jobs. i know what it takes to get this economy going again. i care about the people of america. >> reporter: as new polls show ohio slipping away. romney down by ten points in a new poll out this morning, and nearly that in another recent poll. after that video of romney talking badly about the 47% who pay no income tax. today, from romney, more compassion in a new minute-long tv ad. >> president obama and i both care about poor and middle class families. the difference is, my policies will make things better for them. >> reporter: romney's problem is historic, nobody has won the white house without winning ohio, romney sounded optimistic today in an interview with nbc news. >> can you win ohio? >> i'm going to win ohio, in part because i have for support of people in ohio. >> reporter: but the problem,

obama is here, too, today, his 29th visit since taking office, and not letting anybody forget that other number, 47%. >> i don't believe we get very far with leaders who write off half the nation as victims who never take responsibility for their lives. >> reporter: the president stopped at campuses, ralliy young supporters. such a crucial day, both men took the stage at almost the same time this afternoon, and almost crossed paths as president obama headed to kent state, and romney to toledo. >> if you're registered, you can start to vote in six days. and this is important because you have a big choice to make. >> reporter: romney got support from golfing legend jack nicklaus. and romney zeroed in on an issue he believes he can exploit. >> in my opinion, it is immoral to pass on obligations like that

to the next generation. >> reporter: for his part, romney is reminding voters that the economy is improving, that the economy is below the national average, because of the auto bailout. more reasons why this could be a tough state for romney. >> all right, in toledo, ohio tonight, thank you. we're learning more about the attack on the american consulate in benghazi, libya, which killed a u.s. ambassador and three other americans. the obama administration says it was a planned terrorist attack, and the fbi is investigating a possible al qaeda link, and an issue that secretary of state hillary clinton discussed total. meanwhile, ann curry set down with the president of libya to discuss the situation. >> reporter: would you call the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi an act of terrorism? >> i have no doubt about that. and it is a pre-planned act of terrorism directed against american citizens. >> reporter: you're confirming

that rpgs were used in the original attack? >> mortars -- >> reporter: they were used in the attack? >> yes. >> reporter: and do you know how many mortars were used? >> about 500. >> reporter: and you were saying they're fired with such accuracy that this could not have been done by somebody who didn't have experience? >> experience and knew what he was doing. >> reporter: and this is what is helping to convince you that this was a pre-planned attack, not a reaction to a controversial movie? >> yes, i have no doubt about this. >> reporter: do you think the movie had anything to do with this attack on the consulate? >> not on this attack, not on this attack, has nothing to do with this attack. >> ann curry, with libya's president. in syria today, rebels struck at the heart of the capitol, damascus, that devastated the area of the presidential palace itself.

the government said four guards were killed, while the opposition put the deaths at hundreds. more on the story. >> reporter: two bombs striking the very heart of the regime's power. one bomb exploded inside, another was a suicide attack from the road. it is 7:00 in the morning, watch the white van. the driver, detonated it at the site of the arm compound. around five minutes later, another bomb, this time in the army command building, which quickly catches fire. then, chaos, fire erupts. the rebels say their men attacked the building. the two huge explosions and gunfire lasting for hours could be heard for miles across the city. in damascus, there is no more important military building than this one. it is the headquarters for all

the army's top commanders. its location is important, too, because it is just opposite syria's state television headquarters. and not far away, the president's palace, no question he would have heard the explosions. the regime initially said nobody died here. later it said four guards were killed and 14 people were injured. but it claimed no top army commanders or defense officials died. syria's regime says this rebel attack was a failure. if this is a failure, president assad should fear success. nbc news, damascus. and we have a stark reminder tonight of the dangers faced by u.s. forces in afghanistan, even as the american mission there starts to wind down, happening in helmand province. and nbc's foreign correspondent, richard engel was there.

>> reporter: the marine outpost was attacked moments ago, now those responsible are being searched for. dozens of men are in the marine compound. it is not a taliban gathering, but only a funeral for a local farmer. but as marines approach another group of mud farmhouses, they come under fire. >> right now, we're taking effective fire from the southeast. >> reporter: lieutenant mock spreads out his men, several marines dive into a rooftop. from here, they can see silhouettes of men hiding and shooting. >> he is popping out the right-hand side of the wall. >> yeah, that is where i spotted him. >> reporter: it is not clear if this is the same taliban that attacked the base. >> they think there are about 20 or 30 hiding, yards from here. some with rpgs, some with

assault rifles, they called in air support, right now they're trying to flush them out, drive them into the open. >> what side of the compound? the navy corpmen and a few afghan soldiers advance closer to the taliban. but as soon as he goes in the house, an explosion, but it was not a bomb. the afghan soldiers u.s. allies fired an rpg, without warning. it knocked him down, but he is okay. >> came through the doorway, got thrown on my butt, but it is all right. >> reporter: the marines think they overpowered the taliban, at least in this fight. >> the fire gradually got less and less, i believe they retreated. >> reporter: the u.s. troops are handing over to afghan security forces so americans can leave. but this is no training miss, not yet. not even close. richard engel, nbc news,

afghanistan. the economic crisis in europe is bubbling up again, in greece today, a general strike brought much of the country to a standstill, and in athens, protest against deep cutbacks turned violent. a few 100 protesters threw molotov cocktails, and police followed with tear gas. all of this follows protests in spain where the government is trying to cut spending in the face of crippling debts there. and referees may be getting closer to settling differences, as the situation with the referees threaten to cause the situation to get worse. are you surprised that the two sides have not settled yet? >> no, they're moving very close now, if the nfl felt they had

the leverage and could play hard ball, the public relations as be pekt of this could change it considerably. it came to a critical mass as we see here. prior to that, the replacement officials were in way over their head. procedural mistakes, loss of application of rules, many, many mistakes prior to this one. dozens, and dozens, this was just the tipping point. >> we saw that bill belichick signed money for the replacement referee the other night. fair punishment? >> a relative slap on the wrist, there is no way they would be held to the account that you would want them to be. keep in mind these are not officials from the sec or the big ten, these are from the arena league, the division three, four and five rungs down. and what is happening now is that the true officials are viewed as indespensable, the use

of the sub par officials puts them at risk. the league knows it, they have a big public relations problem. i think it is why it gets settled sooner, rather than later. maybe not by this weekend, but i wouldn't be surprised it would follow quickly. when nightly news continues on this wednesday night, a school controversy, students as young as 14 being given the morning-after pill, without their parents' consent. and later, remembering the great crooner, andy williams. and every day since, we've worked hard to keep it. bp has paid over twenty-three billion dollars to help people and businesses who were affected, and to cover cleanup costs. today, the beaches and gulf are open for everyone to enjoy -- and many areas are reporting their best tourism seasons in years.

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a controversy here in new york tonight over a pilot program which allows public high schools to give out a morning-after pill to students without telling their parents. here is nbc's katy tur. >> reporter: when some students came back to school this fall, they were offered more than just math and history lessons. >> if your birth control fails. >> it is called plan b, an emergency birth control now available without parental consent to 12,000 female students between the ages of 14 and 17. city health official's newest tool to fight the teen pregnancy. >> that is the only situation

for my daughter, i don't think the school should have anything to do with it. >> for kids who don't need it, they don't have to take it. >> reporter: the new york city department of health says it is necessary to reach more kids and get them the health care that they need when they need it. >> reporter: the commissioner at the department of health says this. >> having it at school is critical, because it is time sensitive, and the quicker a student takes it after unprotected sex, the quicker it works. >> reporter: the program started last year, to help health services to those who have little access to clinics, across the country, just 14 clinics are allowed to give out the birth control. teen rates a down significantly, 42% from their peak in 1990, in new york, parents were given the choice to have their children opt out of

plan b, but only about 2% did so. >> new york city schools can't even give the child an aspirin without the parents' permission. why is it okay to give the child a hormonal cocktail without informed consent? that is just absurd. >> reporter: a complicated issue being addressed, now, a part of a lesson plan. kate tur, nbc news, new york. and up next, a sizzling crisis for some at the breakfast table. ♪ leaving my homeland ♪ playing a lone hand ♪ my life begins today ♪ ♪ fly by night away from here ♪ ♪ change my life again ♪ ♪ fly by night, goodbye my dear ♪ ♪ my ship isn't coming ♪ and i just can't pretend oww! ♪ [ male announcer ] careful, you're no longer invisible

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snkeling areas, like hawaii or the great barrier reef. and this opened after extensive renovations. but this pool is full of gooy green algae. the shallow pool provides the perfect environment for the algae to grow. experts are working on fixing it, even if they have not figured out how to yet. and now, more work on the earthquake-damaged washington monument will take about two years to complete and will be closed until then. now alarming news about one of america's favorite breakfast foods, farmers and marketers are warning that the price of bacon will go sky high, and that is even if you can find it at all. nbc's john yang has more. >> reporter: at this bakery

institution, breakfast means bacon and eggs. >> you will see angry people if the pork gets taken off the menu. >> reporter: but experts warn of a problem. >> we set 2011 for retail prices, i think we'll shadow it next year. >> reporter: the reason, this summer's drought pushed up the price to feed the hogs. the costs have skyrocketed. >> the cost for a pig was about $52-53, from birth to market, now it is up to $95. >> reporter: in 2007, u.s. farmers produced about 51 pounds of pork for every american. next year's forecast, just shy of 45 pounds, a 12% drop. that means it turns up in just about everything. in ice cream, donuts, vodka, even gourmet chocolates. in the face of a crisis, the bacon lovers are standing firm.

>> if it goes up to 5.99, i'll just eat less of it. >> reporter: the diners here say enjoy it while you can. >> enjoy the pork chops, the food, while you can. >> reporter: as fewer little piggies go to market. john yang, nbc news, chicago. and when we come back, remembering an american classic. the life and music of andy williams ♪ ♪ ♪ >> i'm playing the field. talk. tell me your plan...: i wt and what it means for me. woman 2: i'm tired of the negative ads and political spin. that won't help me decide. man 2: i earned my medicare and social security. and i deserve some answers. anncr: where do the candidates stand on issues that... affect seniors today and in the future? find out with the aarp voters' guide at earnedasay.org

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andy williams died last night, and the late '60s and '70s were often remembered for the late counterculture music, but andy williams was the opposite of that, loved by millions, and always close to his midwestern roots. here is kevin temple. >> reporter: he may not have penned it, but "moon river" belonged to andy williams. >> i'm going your way ♪ ♪ ♪ >> reporter: the classic handsome, velvet-voiced crooner,

clean-cut, even in the '60s, an iowa boy, he performed with his brothers even before going solo. for almost ten years he hosted the andy williams show on nbc. helping to put another group of singing brothers, the osmonds, on the map. he also introduced america to the three-year-old marie. >> will you save me a dance? >> okay. >> reporter: he said the clarity and warmth and grace of music, shaped my beginning. the andy williams christmas special became a family tradition. although some could blame him for the advent of the sweater. among his achievements, 18 golds and three platinum recordings. >> what he represented was a time of change, something safe

and family-friendly. >> glory, glory hallelujah ♪ ♪ ♪ >> reporter: williams sang the battle hymn of the republic, at his close friend, bobby kennedy's funeral in 1968. but as time passed, his easy listening style fell from favor, and williams saw it was time to move on. >> it is a little more difficult to sell than it was 20 years ago. but there is an audience there. >> reporter: and he found the audience in branson, missouri, where he built the moon river theater, and where tonight, the show will go on. >> and that is our broadcast for this wednesday night. thank you for joining us. i'm savannah guthrie, for brian williams and everyone here at nbc news, thank you for joining us. and a reminder, matt and i will see you tomorrow morning on "today." have a great evening.